This weekend the forecast was simply superb, so it was to be my first genuine attempt at trying for that elusive first decent snapper of the new season. Several days of westerlys in anyones book is just what the doctor ordered, calms seas, clean and abundant with fish life.

In the middle of the day on Saturday, bang on 12 o'clock came ashore a nice wee snapper of 3kg. I dropped a second one very next cast 15-20 metres in from where it was hooked, but it was fantastic to see it and get a little reward on our beaches.

These westerly conditions have diffinitly started to get the ball rolling. Even the gurnard are heading on in, they seem partial to the anchovies at the moment too. Big work ups of kahawai, large shoals of white bait..... Its going to be a cracker season

I headed over to the Gisborne Surfcasting club's weigh in. Marko had a fantastic looking elephant fish tipping the scales at over 6 kg.

Marko with his elephant fish.